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Gianna

“Y o, G. You’ve been seated.” Antonio squeezes my shoulder as he ducks behind the bar.

“Thanks.” I pull my order pad out of my apron, plastering on my fake smile.

Truth is I was hoping no one else would come in and Antonio would allow me to go on home.

The weather is shit. My shift is crawling by.

I can hear the ticks of Father Time’s clock as the seconds pass.

Pizza Palace has been in business for about ten years.

The restaurant normally stays packed, sends out a lot of takeout and deliveries, but this weather is the kind that keeps ya at home curled up with a bowl of soup or chili.

I’d give about anything to be wearing my fuzzy pajamas in bed with a dirty romance book to escape reality.

Maybe one that takes place somewhere tropical.

Approaching the table, my customer’s seated with his back facing me.

The snow continues to fall harder. The scenery illuminated by the pole light in the parking lot as I glance out the window gives the impression we’re trapped inside a snow globe that’s recently been shook.

I fish an ink pen out of my apron and press the tip to my order pad. “Hi, I’m Gianna. I’ll be your server tonight.”

The man’s head snaps up, and his pretty blue eyes lock with mine as his lips tip into a broad grin. “Well I be damned. Never thought I’d look at your pretty smile again face to face.”

I return his stare. It isn’t until I notice the scar above his left eyebrow that I recognize him. “Jesse.” I smile and my belly flutters. “You’re out. ”

Tilting his head, he studies me from head to toe. Taking in my tight black pants paired with a red tee that has Pizza Palace embroidered in white stitching over my left breast he shoots me a wink. “What’s it been? Ten years.”

“Something like that. How’ve you been?”

“Doing a helluva lot better now that you’re here.”

Heat rises up the back of my neck. “Are you ready to order or do you need a few minutes?”

“That depends.”

“On?” I hedge, taking a step back. The way he keeps grinning at me takes me back to when I was a teenager ready to ditch this town and everyone in it. Honestly I never thought I’d see his face again. Now look here we are older though likely not much wiser.

“You on the menu? ”

I laugh, giving him a shake of my head. “Nope.”

“Right. Can’t blame a guy for trying. You always were the prettiest girl in all of Drag creek.”

“Ha. Not falling for that. I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“Maybe, but this time I mean it.”

“Jesse—that’s sweet but…”

He licks his lips. “You got a man?” Jesse always was hot.

Now he’s all man and even hotter. Dressed in dark jeans, a light blue, gray, and black checked flannel that brings out the cornflower blue shade of his eyes, offset by his coal black hair.

He still has that great smile while appearing to have packed on some muscles as far as I can tell.

“Just dodged a bullet. Happily single.”

“Looking to mingle? ”

“You don’t know when to quit do you. How about I get you a drink while you decide what you want to eat.”

“I’m starving but not for pizza.”

“Stop that. I’m sure you’ve got a few girls lined up. You always were a lady’s man.”

“Only had eyes for one.”

I ignore his comment and attempt to get him back on track. The quicker he orders, the sooner I get to go home. “You still a fan of Pepsi?”

“Damn it’s great to bump into you. You gotta let me take you out for a drink or something one night to catch up. I’ve missed you, Gia. You always were my favorite girl.” Tingles shoot up and down my spine hearing his old nickname for me.

“We’ll see. I’ll get you a drink.” I move off from his table, scurrying to the bar.

Antonio takes one look at me. “You okay?”

“I’m fine. Can I get a Pepsi please?”

“If you say so.” He nods but his thick dark brows draw inward. I know Antonio sees through me. Seeing Jesse has thrown me off center. I always knew one day he’d be released, but I never expected our paths to cross again.

If Jelissa knew he was out and didn’t tell me I may kill her.

I could’ve done with a warning so I could be prepared for this moment.

Yes it’s been ten years since he fucked up.

I’ve moved on, but the second I saw him all that resentment and heartache came flooding back along with the love I once felt.

I thought I’d made peace with Jesse and what would never be between us but seeing him cuts those old wounds wide open.

We were supposed to leave Drag Creek together.

I thought I’d marry him. That he was gonna sweep me off my feet to give me my happily ever after.

But then he got caught robbing that house, and the fool had a gun on him.

He called me collect from jail. Said that he did it for me.

Swore he was trying to get enough money saved so we could be together.

I was young and na?ve. I thought he loved me but soon I found out I wasn’t his only girl. The asshole had a baby on the way.

When I found that out I told myself I was done. I stopped reading his letters. Refused his calls.

My stomach drops to my feet. So many emotions are swirling through my veins. All the things we left unsaid.

I look back at Jesse and freeze. There’s a woman seated with him now. Staring isn’t polite, but I hope she’s not his girlfriend with how he came on to me not even two minutes ago. I won’t be surprised if they are together though .

“Better make that two of those,” I tell Antonio and wait for him to get the other.

The last thing I want is to go back to that table, but I don’t have much of a choice.

The heat of Antonio’s gaze centers on me as I go to deliver the drinks.

Its worse than I thought. Jesse is here with Donna Jansen.

The girl who made my high school days a living hell.

She tormented me. Called me the beauty queen of the trailer park.

“Here you are. You two ready to order?”

“Gianna, is that you?” Donna puts on a smile that drips with pure malice.

I don’t know what I ever did to make her hate me so much but seeing her here with Jesse maybe I answered my own question.

She’s still got the same over processed bottle blonde hair, fake red fingernails, and an orange tan she sported in high school. Some things never change .

They place their order, and I avoid Jesse’s gaze.

When they need a refill on their drinks, I beg Antonio to get it.

Like a chicken shit I hide in the back cashing my tips out for the night. As soon as he’s finished with his meal, I’m getting the heck outta here.

Sensing my anxiety Antonio takes pity on me. “I’ll finish your table. No one else is coming in tonight. Get on home.”

“Thanks.” I stuff my tips in my purse and discard my apron. “You’re the best.” I give him a peck on the cheek and a quick squeeze before rushing out the back door to avoid seeing Jesse and that bitch again.

All I want is to put as much distance between us as possible. I never should have returned to Drag Creek .

Stupid Noah.

Stupid Jesse.

Men are shit.

Heavy wet snow continues to pour down forcing me to turn my high beams on. I can’t judge where I’m going. I think I missed my turn. My wipers are no deterrent for the icy sheets coming down.

Only an idiot would be caught driving in this weather, and that idiot is me. I’d rather take my chances out here than go back there. I step on the gas, needing to put as much distance between me and Jesse as possible.

What an asshole seriously. He was on a date or they could be married for all I know and while she was in the bathroom, he was hitting on me. I’m so done with men. Every single last one of them .

My breath catches in my throat the next seconds happening at warp speed.

Something flashes across the road, and I jerk the wheel to swerve out of the way.

I hit the brakes as something large rolls up onto the hood and the windshield cracks.

My car slides across the roadway. I pump the brakes to no avail coming to a dead stop in a ditch as the airbag deploys a minute too late.

Unhooking my seatbelt, I then open the door unable to view anything but the blackness of the night.

Reaching to the console I grab my cell phone and start to dial Jelissa, but she’s home with the baby.

There’s no way I’m calling her to come pick me up.

It’s not as if she can do anything for me but listen to me whine.

I would call my father, but I know better than to count on him for anything.

I don’t know why I ever came back to this shithole town .

The screen lights up, my battery is at fifteen percent. Not to mention my signal is weak. Shit . With a sigh, I dial my brother.